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“You have been away from my side for three weeks We deserved some time alone” Had she not missed him at all?

She’d certainly showed no signs of wanting to get to New York as soon as possible

“I think ould have survived waiting until tonight to share a bed”

“Perhaps you would have—clearly I was not so content to wait”

“I didn’t say I was content” She yawned, cuddling in closer

He ate it up He’d always enjoyed his wife’s affectionate side … or rather ex-wife Not that she would be that for er

“You have not been sleeping,” he censured

“I’ve had a lot to do”

“At night?” He did not think so

“My mind doesn’t always shut dohen my body wants to”

He did not ask what thoughts had kept her awake He did not think the ansould h reluctance to leave her little coastal town He’d been forced to co her worries in this regard to the forefront again

“Sleep now,” he commanded

She needed it and he needed some space to think

She nodded, adjusting her position so she was lying across the seat, her head in his lap

His plan had gone according to his calculations right down the line, until it cas had gotten ed spanner in the works

Three weeks of cajoling his recalcitrant ex-wife intothe move to New York before they were both retirees had convinced Ariston that he needed to change their schedule on certain things

Mentally going over the list of things they had to do before leaving New York, he brushed his fingers through her hair

“Mmmm … nice Don’t stop,” she slurred as her body relaxed into sleep

He didn’t, finding the action as relaxing as she did

She ith hi

So, he should be content

Why wasn’t he?

“What do youmarried?” Chloe nearly screeched as she waved the contract she’d just finished reading at Ariston